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D@mn Columbia Gas

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Started 2 years ago by Tenzo
Latest reply from Anne

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columbia gas

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Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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According to someone on the board 40,000 of us got a notice that they had attempted to get into our homes to verify the remote meter readings with the unit. If we didn't call there might be a large penalty, including the possibility of having the gas shut off.

So I got around to calling Columbia gas just now.

The guy I talked to said they need to install a remote transmitter inside The time they had for me was January 28th from noon to 4.
Me;" the letter said it could be done as late as 7."
Him; "Your area has to be done on January 28th and that is the only time they have"
Me; " I'm not home at that time."
Him; "you can leave a key at the front door."
Me; I'm not going to leave a key at my front door for people I don't know"
Him; "Well, they need to get in your home."
Me; "Is there another day or time"
Him; "No"
Me; "That's rediculous, what other times do you have"
Him; "That is the time assigned to your home"
Me; "This is nothing like what was in the notice, I think I need to speak to a supervisor"
Him; "Damn!"
Me; "huh"
Him;" Our power just went out and the computers crashed. All the lights are off and I can't see a thing"
Me; "Can you see my caller ID?"
Him; "uhhh, yeah"
Me; "It says AEP"
<pause>
Me; "Now you know what it feels like to have your utilities cut off"
Me <click>

Yeah, I know I shouldn't have.
But if God's going to set me up like that, it would be rude not to go for the punch line.

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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hahaha. good one. That is really pretty ridiculous, though. They can't get in for 6 weeks and only a 4 hour window in the middle of a work day? and yeah, sure, i'll leave a key. Give me a break!

I am starting to think there may be something up with our meter because I just received our bill from November and it was $30. Mr. Waitress said we hardly had the heat on but still, that's only about $8 more than in the summertime.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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lisathewaitress wrote >>
hahaha. good one. That is really pretty ridiculous, though. They can't get in for 6 weeks and only a 4 hour window in the middle of a work day? and yeah, sure, i'll leave a key. Give me a break!
I am starting to think there may be something up with our meter because I just received our bill from November and it was $30. Mr. Waitress said we hardly had the heat on but still, that's only about $8 more than in the summertime.

Gas prices are down substantially from last winter.

Posted 2 years ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
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Is Columbia Gas putting in remote readers for free? AEP does, but Columbia Gas has been trying to get me to buy remote meter readers for my houses and I refuse to pay them for it. If they are doing it for free in other neighborhoods (read richer) I'm gonna be pissed.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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If they are charging for them I'M gunna be pissed.

Not sure why they would charge for it. They get the benefit, not me.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Tenzo wrote >>
If they are charging for them I'M gunna be pissed.
Not sure why they would charge for it. They get the benefit, not me.

it's not free. They will be charging you for it. :(

AEP came and replaced my meter the other day unexpectedly. No appointment, no announcement. Just a loud banging on the door and a guy saying "uh. we're here to replace your meter".

Not sure why they replaced it. They said something about dogs. We don't have any dogs.
But it's a nice new meter with a digital display. *shrug*

Posted 2 years ago #
kit444
Elsewhere
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Rockmastermike wrote >>

Tenzo wrote >>
If they are charging for them I'M gunna be pissed.
Not sure why they would charge for it. They get the benefit, not me.

it's not free. They will be charging you for it. :(
AEP came and replaced my meter the other day unexpectedly. No appointment, no announcement. Just a loud banging on the door and a guy saying "uh. we're here to replace your meter".
Not sure why they replaced it. They said something about dogs. We don't have any dogs.
But it's a nice new meter with a digital display. *shrug*

They'll be (I guess I should write "we") installing smart meters in some parts of the city, but I don't think that's due to happen yet.

Posted 2 years ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
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I'm on the phone with Columbia Gas right now. They're saying it's free, and will take 4 YEARS to do the whole city. I asked why they are starting in the wealthy areas first and she said "that's not true" but couldn't tell me how they are choosing who gets it first. I'm now on hold trying to find out when I might get a remote meter according to their plans but only after I threatened to call PUCO about it.

Posted 2 years ago #
berdawn
near that stretch of N. High Street in the Short North
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It took at least a couple of months to get a remote put into our house. They threatened to shut off our gas until an actual reading could be done (the numbers I called in just didn't do it for them)

Posted 2 years ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
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Now they are claiming that the "verification" does not include installing an ARM inside, but they are installing ARMs for free over the next 4 YEARS. So I got a total run around on the issue. Tenzo, do you already have a ARM (a remote meter either outside or a transmitter inside)? and are they "verifying it" or installing one?

Posted 2 years ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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SusanB wrote >>
Is Columbia Gas putting in remote readers for free? AEP does, but Columbia Gas has been trying to get me to buy remote meter readers for my houses and I refuse to pay them for it. If they are doing it for free in other neighborhoods (read richer) I'm gonna be pissed.

They were hounding the residents in my condo building (43201, nothing to get excited about) for months before I moved even though the building went all electric after it was renovated. Idiots. So I don't think this has anything to do with wealth. Might want to chill a bit on the assumptions.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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kit444 wrote >>

They'll be (I guess I should write "we") installing smart meters in some parts of the city, but I don't think that's due to happen yet.

I do not think this is one of those.

It's nice, though, I can read it from my dining room window without going outside. Between that and my "kill-a-watt" I'm getting some useful usage data. I have some sneaking suspicion that they replaced the meter because we're using so much less power than the previous occupant. E.G. I replaced 800 watts (No kidding!) of light bulbs in one room with 40 watts. Who puts 8 100 watt bulbs in one room?!

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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SusanB wrote >>
Now they are claiming that the "verification" does not include installing an ARM inside, but they are installing ARMs for free over the next 4 YEARS. So I got a total run around on the issue. Tenzo, do you already have a ARM (a remote meter either outside or a transmitter inside)? and are they "verifying it" or installing one?

I have an inside meter and a wired remote display.
They want to put in a wireless one so they can read it from a block away. This strong arming by threatening to cut me off is pissing me off. The letter says that they can come anytime from 7am to 7pm. So I'm guessing this is what they are bound to. The "do it our time or we will cut off your gas in the peak of winter" grates.

Is there a higher power I can bitch to?
(I mean besides CU)

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Rockmastermike wrote >>

kit444 wrote >>
They'll be (I guess I should write "we") installing smart meters in some parts of the city, but I don't think that's due to happen yet.

I do not think this is one of those.
It's nice, though, I can read it from my dining room window without going outside. Between that and my "kill-a-watt" I'm getting some useful usage data. I have some sneaking suspicion that they replaced the meter because we're using so much less power than the previous occupant. E.G. I replaced 800 watts (No kidding!) of light bulbs in one room with 40 watts. Who puts 8 100 watt bulbs in one room?!

When I lived over on Glenn Ave we had 8 or 9 200 watt light bulbs in the basement. I promptly replaced all of the with 40 watt compact florescent bulbs.

Posted 2 years ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
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So they lied to me over the phone. You are getting an ARM for free and I may have to wait 4 YEARS. You can call PUCO to complain about the way you are being treated. I wish I was being abused as you are, but I may have to wait 4 YEARS for the privilege ;)

Posted 2 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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Tenzo wrote >>

SusanB wrote >>
Now they are claiming that the "verification" does not include installing an ARM inside, but they are installing ARMs for free over the next 4 YEARS. So I got a total run around on the issue. Tenzo, do you already have a ARM (a remote meter either outside or a transmitter inside)? and are they "verifying it" or installing one?

I have an inside meter and a wired remote display.
They want to put in a wireless one so they can read it from a block away. This strong arming by threatening to cut me off is pissing me off. The letter says that they can come anytime from 7am to 7pm. So I'm guessing this is what they are bound to. The "do it our time or we will cut off your gas in the peak of winter" grates.
Is there a higher power I can bitch to?
(I mean besides CU)

Just mention PUCO and they should back off. Worked for me twice - once I actually had to file a report to get some action.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Tenzo wrote >>
Is there a higher power I can bitch to?
(I mean besides CU)

I will assume you have heard of the PUCO, but I'm not sure they actually have any more power over the utilities than just bitching on CU will get you.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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SusanB wrote >>
So they lied to me over the phone. You are getting an ARM for free and I may have to wait 4 YEARS. You can call PUCO to complain about the way you are being treated. I wish I was being abused as you are, but I may have to wait 4 YEARS for the privilege ;)

What are you doing January 28th from 12 to 4pm?

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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Ohio Consumers Council
http://www.pickocc.org/
Utility Complaints or Questions? Call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622)

PUCO
http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/information.cfm?id=4090

The PUCO can help resolve disputes between residential, business, and industrial consumers and regulated utility and moving companies. Before contacting the PUCO, you should contact the utility or moving company to give them the opportunity to resolve the dispute directly.

There are four ways to contact the PUCO with a complaint:

Fill out the online complaint form.
Call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The TTY-TDD number is (800) 686-1570.
Fax your complaint to (614) 752-8351.
Mail your complaint to:
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Attn: IAD
180 E. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793

Posted 2 years ago #
jackoh
The Village
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Can anyone cite an instance of the PUCO actively intervening to support the interest of consumers vs the interests of the utility companies?

Posted 2 years ago #